Any yahoo can start a marketing company, so I did. By Alec Poulin

I’ve owned a small business before…that failed. Whether that was because my heart wasn’t in it, I was too lazy, the business model, lack of tech, lack of marketing, or all of the above, it failed. But I learned a lot of valuable lessons along the way that an overpriced education could never provide.

Atlantic Detailing Professionals was my first crack at being a small business owner after I got out of a 9-year military career serving as an Army Infantry Officer. I was qualified to be an African Warlord with my skillset so naturally my options were sales, management, entrepreneurship, or living under a bridge. I got out of the Army for more freedom and control in my life so after a quick stint as a car salesman and learning how to connect with people that didn’t include the “F” word, beating my chest, and throwing leaves, I decided to start my own company detailing cars.

I was good at what I did, my customers liked me, they liked my services, pricing, follow-up and follow-through. It was all there. But as with any small business owner who’s on the cusp of success, I was overwhelmed and over worked. Working for yourself is a double-edged sword. The different hats I had to wear and skills I had to learn not only included the daily tasks of the job itself, but I had to juggle the admin, budgets, training my part-time help, updating the website, managing vendors, ordering supplies, and marketing just to name a few.

It was manageable, and for the most part, I liked the freedom, flexibility, and control. Detailing nasty cars in 100 plus degree heat, not so much, but it was mine. I worked hard and my schedule soon became full, VERY full. I was making good money, the bills were being paid and I was booked up as much as I wanted to be. Then I began to feel like an employee again. My entire reason for going out on my own was to have freedom to do what I wanted, when I wanted to, with minimal obligation to others. I was a victim to the first main growth spurt of a small business owner. I was stuck in second gear and couldn’t get over the hump. I needed more business for a full time employee but I needed to grow more first, yet, I had zero time to to market.

I decided to try some of these telemarketing companies that promised to keep my website updated, get me positive Google reviews, create social media posts, and other odd jobs. For $800 a month and a year-long contract I could get all that, or so they promised. At the same time I got a small sandwich board sign to set up while detailing, I spent a few more bucks on a social media manager, email newsletter, ran an ad in a local golf club magazine. I was experimenting. Somehow I managed to make ten times more the return on that damned sandwich board sign than anything else. If only I had a local marketing company call me instead. Someone to willing to extend an olive branch and cater their strategy to my type of business. They would have told me to send mailers, wrap my car, and done more local guerilla. Unfortunately, no one came to my rescue.

After a few years of emotionally and professionally waterboarding myself, I caught some air long enough decide to sell my clientele list, get a job, and figure out what the hell just happened for the last three years. I took a sales job for a local printing company where I learned the joys of cold calling on marketing companies with fancy websites. The same type of marketing companies that used to promise me the world. Then a thought occurred to me. Most of these marketing companies don’t actually guarantee services or have a vested interest in the content they create. Their performance isn't tied to lead generation or increased sales. Once they get their contract, there’s no incentive to deliver. They even stall and say that it takes 4 months to start showing progress. Month after month it's the same mediocre results.

To me, this was wrong. Seeing companies that had no vested interest in their partner’s success made me want to make a difference. I knew it was happening to others and it was hurting the reputation of the industry which made my life harder as a salesperson. So yeah, I’m another yahoo who started a marketing company. I guarantee services, you don’t need to sign a long-term contract, my price is post is ludicrously low, and I aim to equip my partners with the tools they need to be competitive in the marketplace. Headway is about making headway, but it’s also about doing things the Hilton Head way. In the south, things are a bit slower, but people care about one another, for the most part (I can't vouch for the Yankee migrants). We smile and wave at strangers, folks are more inclined to know your name, and we're not indifferent after we make a sale. Maybe integrity is the word and that's how I choose to do business.

I hope you continue to follow me on my journey as an entrepreneur, a veteran, and a Christian. Please like, comment, and share if you gained anything at all from this blog. I look forward to chatting again soon.